September 04, 2009

Oklahoma's Balogun not re-certified, options remain open

Oklahoma linebacker Mike Balogun was apparently not recertified by the NCAA on Friday, according to his attorney.

“I have not been told, nor have I seen anything in writing that they have certified him and I don’t expect to see it,” Woody Glass said Friday night.

The NCAA pulled his certification Aug.14 under the belief he played in the amateur NAFL after his 21st birthday.

Glass had been notified that the NCAA amateurism certification staff would have a decision Friday. He said he had only received word that the staff had prepared a statement of proposed fact in the case, but he had not seen that, either.

Two paths are open for Balogun. He can continue a time-consuming appeal through NCAA channels, or decided to go back into the court system to seek a permanent injunction. That, however, apparently would do him no good, because Oklahoma has apparently decided by not taking him to Saturday’s opening game against BYU that Balogun will not play unless he is recertified.

“Mike could tell me to forget (the appeal process) and go back to court,” Glass acknowledged. “But where does that leave him? The courts may grant a permanent injunction, but does that put him at odds with Oklahoma?

“The fact is Mike is suffering irreparable damage. He cannot get these games back.”

If Balogun follows the appeal process, several steps are involved.

The certification staff will send its proposed finding of fact to both Balogun and Oklahoma. If they do not agree an NCAA fact finding committee will resolve the factual issues. Then the case is submitted to the Amateurism Certification Committee for decision.--Mike Jones.